Projectile fuze



Sept. 15, 1964 c. VARAUD PROJECTILE FUZE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1962 Sept. 15, 1964 c, VARAUD 3,148,621

PROJECTILE FUZE Filed May 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,148,621 Patented Sept. 15, 1964 Free 3,148,621 PROEECTILE FUZE Claude Varaud, Collex-Bossy, Geneva, Switzerland, as-

signor to IndustriaI-Holding-Establishment, Vaduz, Liechtenstein Filed May 21, 1962, Ser. No. 196,106 4 Claims. (Ci. 10274) The present application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 845,892, filed October 12, 1959, entitled Projectile Fuze, now abancloned.

The invention relates to a fuze for non-spinning projectiles, for the type comprising transport safety means which lock the firing pin, and trajectory safety means.

An object of the invention is to provide a fuze of the type mentioned, with an axially movable firing pin, locked in its inoperative position, and with a primer carrier which is also locked in its inoperative position and which can, after release of the locking, move forward against the firing pin, as soon as the velocity of the projectile de creases along its trajectory, said primer carrier being constituted by a barrel disposed eccentrically to the fuze axis and having at least one longitudinal channel with a primer, which barrel serves as an inertia body disposed movably along its axis against said firing pin, a releasable bolt being disposed as a security means in front of said barrel, and said barrel being coupled for rotation with the cap of the fuze for adjusting the position of said longitudinal channel with the primer and for selecting a distinct longitudinal channel for flushing its primer with the firing pin.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following description, the accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the fuze according to the invention by way of example.

FIGURE 1 is an axial section thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section on section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section on section line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is another cross section on section line 44 of FIGURE 1.

The fuze illustrated comprises a fuze body 1, on which is disposed a cap 2, which is held in place axially by a metal ring 3. This ring is splitso as to be elastic. It is engaged partially in a slot 4 in the cap and in a slot 5 in the body 1. This arrangement enables the cap 2 to turn in relation to the body 1. However, by virtue of its elasticity, this ring constitutes a friction spring opposing an accidental movement of the cap in relation to the body. A screw 6, counter-sunk in a lateral hole 7 in the cap, enables the cap 2 to be locked in relation to the body 1, in any desired angular position. By tightening the screw, the ring 3 is pressed against the body 1, as will be seen from FIGURE 1.

Gaskets are provided at 8 and 9. Reference 10 (FIG- URE 2) denotes a peripheral marking provided in the body 1. The cap 2 has four peripheral markings as follows:

S=safety 1=instantaneous SD=short delay LD=long delay Each of these four markings may be brought optionally in register with the marking 10 simply by turning the cap 2 in relation to the body 1. The screw 6 enables the body 1 to be fixed especially in the safety position S, for the purposes of storage or transport of the projectile.

In the transport safety position S, the firing pin 11-is locked by the safety means which will not be described.

This firing pin is engaged in a firing piston 12 held in the position shown in FIGURE 1 by means of a spring 13. When the said piston is displaced against the action of the spring 13, it drives with it in the downward direction in FIGURE 1 the firing pin 11. It is desirable to prevent this movement during storage, transport or parachuting of the projectile. To this end there is provided inside the fuze a bolt 14 with a spring 61) having a slot 15 in which the top of the firing pin is engaged.

When the bolt is in the position shown in FIGURE 1, a shoulder 16 of the firing pin rests on the upper surface of the bolt 14 so that the latter prevents any movement of the firing pin in the downward direction in FIGURE 1. This bolt 14 is in turn held in the locking position by means of a stud 17 solid with a piston 18 held in the operative position by a compression spring 19. The piston 18 has a groove 20 in which a ball 21 is partially engaged. Said ball is disposed in a radial hole 22, see FIGURE 3, in a cylindrical member 23 engaged partially in the body 1 and partially in the cap 2. This member is fixed in relation to the body 1.

In its part situated level with the radial hole 22, the inner surface of the cap 2 has three recesses 24. These recesses are so disposed that one of them is situated exactly opposite the hole 22 and the ball 21. When one of the markings 1, SD or LD registers with the marking 10, and only in those positions. It is obvious that each of the recesses 24 corresponds to one of the markings 1, SD and LD. On firing, as a result of inertia, the piston 18 tends to move in the downward direction (FIGURE 1) against the action of the spring 19. If the ball is then situated in register with one of the recesses 24 (which is the case in FIGURES 1 and 3), it is obvious that the movement of this piston can take place, which has the effect of driving the ball in the outward direction into the recess 24- in question. In consequence, the piston 18 is unlocked and its stud 17 moves down, which releases the bolt 14.

The bolt 14 is designed to pivot about an axis 25 which is eccentric in relation to the axis of the fuze. Under the action of its spring 60, the bolt 14, as soon as it is no longer held by the stud 17, turns about the axis 25 in the anticlockwise direction and in so doing frees the firing pin 11. From that moment on the firing pin is no longer locked (however, see hereinbelow the function of the element 52) The fuze further contains a trajectory safety device which comprises a part 26 mounted to turn about an axis 27 inside a recess 28 in a cylindrical part 29 fixed inside the body 1. The detonator 3th is disposed inside the part 26. When the part 26 is in the inoperative position, the line of fire between the firing pin and the main charge 31 of the projectile is interrupted, while in the operative position the detonator 30 is in a position such that it completes this line of fire, as will be seen better hereinbelow.

Before describing the trajectory safety device proper, a description will be given, for the sake of clarity, of another arrangement which enables the ignition to be transmitted on percussion, either instantaneously or with a short delay or with a long delay, according to the position in which the cap 2 has been placed in relation to the body 1 before firing.

Part 23 mentioned hereinabove has an eccentric cylindrical recess 32 in which a barrel 33 is disposed to turn. This barrel contains three longitudinal passages in each of which is disposed a primer 34. These primers are different, and one of them corresponds to instantaneous transmission of the ignition, the second to the transmission of this ignition with a short delay, and the third to the transmission of ignition with a long delay.

The barrel 33 has a radial slot 36 into which is engaged a pin 35 fixed on a case 37 mounted on the upper end of the part 33 so as to turn on this part at the same time as the cap 2 turns on the body 1. A pin 38 in fact locks the case 37 angularly in relation to the cap 2. It will be seen that when the cap 2 is turned to bring one of the markings I, LD or SD in register with the marking 10, the pin 35 is compelled to move radially with reference to barrel 33 by virtue of its cooperation with the slot 36, thus compelling the barrel to turn about its own axis.

The arrangement is such that when the index I coincides with the marking the primer 34 corresponding to instantaneous transmission is situated in register with the firing pin 11. Similarly, when the marking SD is in register with the marking 10, the primer 34 corresponding to the transmission of the ignition with a short delay is situated in register with the firing pin 11. Similarly, when the marking LD coincides with the marking 10, the primer 34 corresponding to the transmission of the ignition with a long delay is in alignment with the firing pin 11. Beneath the barrel 33 and in the center of the body to the fuze is a passage 39 serving to transmit the ignition of the primer 34, which is in the operative position, to the detonator 39 when the latter is itself in the operative position.

In the position of the elements shown in the drawing, the part 26 and the detonator 30 are in the inoperative position and it will be seen that a metal part 40, solid with the part 26, closes the lower end of the passage 39 and absolutely prevents the transmission of the ignition to the detonator 30 if, for some reason, the firing pin strikes the primer 34 situated opposite it. As was stated above, the part 26 with the plate 4t) solid therewith then interrupts the line of fire between the firing pin and the charge 31.

A clockwork serves to provide trajectory safety by bringing the detonator 30 in register with the passage 39 only after a predetermined interval of time has elapsed after firing. As shown above on firing the piston 18 moves down so that the ball 21 can escape into one of the recesses 24. In its interior this piston has a conical axial recess 41 which when the piston arrives at the bottom dead center caps a truncated conical Part 42 of corresponding shape. This part is normally held in the position shown by means of a compression spring 53 disposed between a shoulder of this rod 42 and the piston 18, inside the spring 19. The conicities of 41 and 42 are selected in such manner that as soon as the piston fits on 42, the latter is fixed to piston 18. When acceleration within the bore of the gun has ceased, the piston reascends under the action of its spring 19, carrying the part 42 with it. The part has on its lower face a pin 43 which, in the position shown in FIGURE 1, locks a rocking lever 44 belonging to the clockwork mentioned above. When this pin is carried in the upward direction by the piston 18, when the projectile has left the bore of the gun, the rocking lever 44 is freed and can begin to oscillate about the axis of the fuze. It is in fact mounted to turn about a tube 45 forming the wall of the passage 39 and at the same time the axis of the rocking lever.

By means of a torsion spring 46 disposed about the axis 27 the part 26 is urged to turn about this axis. Said spring 46constitutes the driving spring of the clockwork. The plate 40, solid with 26, has at its periphery a toothed segment 47 which is connected by a gear train 48 to an escapement wheel 49 cooperating with an anchor 50 provided on the rocking lever 44. It will thus be seen that the driving spring 46 and the escapement mechanism 49-50 cause the toothed segment 47 to turn step by step as soon as the rocking lever 44 commences oscillating, that is to say when the pin 43 has released it. The detonator 30 is thus progressively brought in register with the passage 39 to complete the line of fire as already stated.

Reference should now be made to an important detail relating to the transportation safety device. With reference to FIGURE 1 it will be seen that the bolt 14 has on its lower face a small conical recess 51 in which engages the likewise conical end of the rod 52 parallel to the axis of the fuze and the lower end of which rests on a part of the member 40 having the toothed segment 47. As already stated, under the section of its spring the bolt 14 tends to turn about its axis 25. However, it is prevented from so doing not only by the stud 17 but also by the conical point of the rod 52 engaged in its housing 51. When the stud 17 has withdrawn, the bolt 14 is no longer retained except by the rod 52 which is also urged by this bolt itself to move in the downward direction. It cannot obey this urging unless the toothed segment 47 has turned by an amount sufiicient for the plate 40 no longer to be situated in register with the rod 52. From that moment on, the rod can move down and free the bolt. To complement what was said in the beginning, percussion can therefore take place on the one hand only after the stud 17 has withdrawn and on the other hand after the rod 52 has also withdrawn.

-It is obvious that the axis of the three longitudinal passages of the barrel 33 in which the primers 34 are disposed is situated on a circle concentric to the axis of rotation of the barrel and tangential to the axis of the firing pin. It will further be seen that the barrel 33 is mounted to be axially movable in the part 23, which is solid with the body of the fuze, so that it can move in the direction of the firing pin in relation to this body when the bolt 14 is in the inoperative position (extreme position towards the left in FIG. 1). The object of this arrangement is that when braking of the projectile occurs over its trajector, by impact or slight deceleration, for example when the projectile touches the ground at a very low angle, the barrel 33 may be projected by inertia towards the firing pin so that ignition then takes place although there has been no percussion. This naturally occurs provided that the safety means are in the inoperative position.

In a modification, the drum could contain a number of primers other than three, for example only one or two. It is obvious that when the marking S corresponds to the marking 10, a solid part of the barrel 33 is in register with the firingpin, thus interrupting the line offire between the latter and the charge 31.

In a modification not shown, the toothed element (similar to the elements 26, 40, 47 of the embodiment described) is constituted by a part of rectangular section bearing a rack toothing, adapted to move rectilinearly under the action of a spring. The detonator would then be disposed in a hole in the rack-carrying part.

I claim:

1. A fuze for non-spinning projectiles with a charge comprisinga fuze body with a rotatable cap, an axially movable firing pin in said cap, means for locking said pin in inoperative position, a primer carrier inertia barrel disposed beneath said pin in the fuze-body, said barrel being pivotally mounted for rotation about its axis and also mounted for sliding along its axis towards said pin, a releasable bolt slidably mounted in said fuze-body and located in front of said barrel as security means for locking said barrel in inoperative position, means for releasing said bolt so that said barrel can move forward under inertia against said firing pin when the Velocity of the projectile decreases along its trajectory, said barrel being disposed eccentrically to the fuze axis and having longi tudinal channels each of which has a primer of a distinct different burning velocity, the axis of each channel being disposed at the same distance from the axis of the barrel, and means for coupling said barrel for rotation with said cap for adjusting the position of said longitudinal channels and for selecting a distinct longitudinal channel for putting the primer thereof into the axis of the firing pin.

2. A fuze according to claim 4, wherein one of the axes of said clockwork braking said section part is a hollow axis for transmitting the fire from one of the primers to the detonator.

3. A fuze for non-spinning projectiles with a charge, comprising a fuze-body, a cap rotatably mounted on said body, a firing pin mounted in said fuze-body lying in the axis of the fuze, releasable locking means for said pin, a barrel mounted below said firing pin eccentrically to the axis of said fuze having longitudinal passages disposed angularly spaced along a circle concentric to the barrel and tangential to the axis of said firing pin, a primer disposed in each of said longitudinal passages, said barrel being pivotally mounted in the fuze-body for rotation about the barrel axis and for lengthwise sliding along the axis thereof towards said pin, a releasable bolt being slidably mounted in said fuze-body and located in front of said barrel as security means for locking said barrel in inoperative position, means for releasing said bolt so that said barrel can move forward under inertia against said firing pin when the velocity of the projectile decreases along its trajectory, trajectory safety means having a toothed member slidably mounted below said barrel, a spring to move said toothed member from an inoperative position into an operative position, a detonator disposed in front of said charge, said toothed member interrupting in its inoperative position the line of fire between said primer and said detonator and, in its operative position, completing said line of fire and also the whole line of fire from said firing pin to the detonator when the barrel is itself in a position wherein one of said longitudinal passages is in register with the firing pin, and said toothed member in operative position also releasing said locking means of the firing pin, said barrel being connected to said cap by a pin fixed to said cap sliding in a slot of the barrel so that said barrel may rotate with said cap about its own axis for bringing one of said longitudinal passages into register with the firing pin upon turning of the cap, and wherein markings are provided on said cap at angular distances between said longitudinal passages to indicate the position into which said cap is to be brought in relation to the body of the fuze for each of the possible functional positions of the barrel.

4. A fuze for non-spinning projectiles with a charge, comprising a fuze body with a rotatable cap, an axially movable firing pin in said cap, means for locking said pin in inoperative position, a primer carrier inertia barrel disposed beneath said pin in the fuze-body, said barrel being pivotally mounted for rotation about its axis and also mounted for sliding along its axis towards said pin, a releasable bolt slidably mounted in said fuze-body and located in front of said barrel as security means for locking said barrel in inoperative position, means for releasing said bolt so that said barrel can move forward under inertia against said firing pin when the velocity of the projectile decreases along its trajectory, said barrel being disposed eccentrically to the fuze axis and having longitudinal channels each of which has a primer of a distinctly different burning velocity, the axis of each channel being disposed at the same distance from the axis of the barrel, means for coupling said barrel for rota-tion with said cap to adjust the position of said longitudinal channels and to select a distinct longitudinal channel for putting the primer thereof into the axis of the firing pin, and further comprising a spring, a clockwork, and an angularly displaceable section part disposed behind said barrel, said section part having a transmitting detonator which, by the action of said spring and braked by said clock-Work, is put into the firing line from the primer to the charge of the projectile.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,822 Hale Jan. 5, 1954 2,821,925 Varaud Feb. 4, 1958 2,984,184 Cetre May 16, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 736,122 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1955 593,303 Italy May 14, 1959 

1. A FUZE FOR NON-SPINNING PROJECTILES WITH A CHAGE COMPRISING A FUZE BODY WITH A ROTATABLE CAP, AN AXIALLY MOVABLE FIRING PIN IN SAID CAP, MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID PIN IN INOPERATIVE POSITION, A PRIMER CARRIER INERTIA BARREL DISPOSED BENEATH SAID PIN IN THE FUZE-BODY, SAID BARREL BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS AND ALSO MOUNTED FOR SLIDING ALONG ITS AXIS TOWARDS SAID PIN, A RELEASABLE BOLT SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FUZE-BODY AND LOCATED IN FRONT OF SAID BARREL AS SECURITY MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID BARREL IN INOPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID BOLT SO THAT SAID BARREL CAN MOVE FORWARD UNDER INERTIA AGAINST SAID FIRING PIN WHEN THE VELOCITY OF THE PROJECTILE DECREASES ALONG ITS TRAJECTORY, SAID BARREL BEING DISPOSED ECCENTRICALLY TO THE FUZE AXIS AND HAVING LONGITUDINAL CHANNELS EACH OF WHICH HAS A PRIMER OF A DISTINCT DIFFERENT BURNING VELOCITY, THE AXIS OF EACH CHANNEL BEING DISPOSED AT THE SAME DISTANCE FROM THE AXIS OF THE BARREL, AND MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID BARREL FOR ROTATION WITH SAID CAP FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID LONGITUDINAL CHANNELS AND FOR SELECTING A DISTINCT LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL FOR PUTTING THE PRIMER THEREOF INTO THE AXIS OF THE FIRING PIN. 